Flexible shaft.



PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

G. H. GOATES.

FLEXIBLE SHAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1905.

Fig.4. 7

Wii messes UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters -Patent.-

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

Application filed March 16, 1905. Serial No. 250,426.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. OOATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented ,a new and useful Improvement in a Flexible Shaft, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings formin a part of the same, in whichigure 1 represents a side view of a flexible shaft embodying my invention, with the inclosing sheath or cover shown in sectional view. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view throu h two connecting links. Fig. 3 is a detached and perspective view of one of the links, and Fig. 4 is a central sectional view through two connected links on a plane at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2.

Similar reference figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

It is the object of my present invention to provide a flexible shaft comprising a series of pivotally-connected links which are duplicates of each other, thereby reducing the expense of construction; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 and 2 denote two squared s indles connected by a flexible shaft embo ying my invention and composed of a series of pivoted links 3, inclosed in a sheath or cover 4, of any suitable material, such as is employed for this urpose in flexible shafts now in use. The ks 3 are duplicates of each other and are so pivoted together at their ends that each link is capable of a rocking movement on its pivot in two planes at right angles to each other. Each link comprises a tapering body portion 5, havin at its smaller end a s herical tip 6, rovide with an elongated ho e 7, and-at its ar 'er end a cylindrical extension 8, provided a cylindrical socket 9. The cylindrical extension 8 carries a pivotal pin 10, extend -1ng diametrically through the socket 9 and passing through the elon ated hole 7 of the next adjacent link. Eac link is capable of a rocking motion around the axis of the p otal pin 10 in the direction of the arrows 11 and 12, Fig. 2, and it is also capable, by

means of the elongated hole 7, of a rocking motion in a plane parallel with the axis of the in 10, as s ig. 4. The pivotal connection between each adjacent pair of links, therefore, forms a universal joint, so that a rotary motion transmitted to the spindle 1 will be communicated through the series of links 3 to the spindle 2. The links 3 are duplicates of each other and are pivotally connected by the simple insertion of the pin 10. The cost of construction is therefore materially reduced and the pivotal pins 10 are securely held in place by a sli ht upsetting or riveting of their ends.

TV'hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination ina flexible shaft, of a series of duplicate links, each of said links having a socket at one end to receive the opposite end ofv the ad'acent link, and a ivotal pin held in the soc et end of the 1' there eing an elongated hole in the pivoted end of the adjacent link to receive sald pivotal pin. 2. The combination in a flexible shaft, of a series of duplicate links with their ends pivotally united, each of said links comprising a tapering body-section, with a cylindrical socket at one end and a spherical tip at its opposite end, there be' an elongated hole in said spherical tip, a r id a pivotal pin carried by said cylindrical socket.

3. The combination in a flexible shaft, of a series of"'pivoted links each consisting of a sin le piece having at one end a tip provided with an elongated hole and a cylindrical socket at the opposite end adapted to receive said tip and means for pivotally connecting said links.

4. A flexible shaft consisting of a series of similar connected parts, each of said parts having at one end a cylindrical socket, and a own by the arrows 13 and 14,

pin held in said end and extending diamete GEORGE. H. COATES.

Witnesses RUFUS B. FOWLER,

PENELOPE COMBERBACH. 

